Metro Council finds $69 million gift in trash

Debate ensues about how to use a heap of money gleaned from renegotiated garbage contracts.
It’s not every day that you find $69 million in the trash — and then have to worry about what to do with it.
But that’s just the dilemma before Metro Council, as debate ensues over how — among a myriad of proposals — to use a heap of money available during the next 10 years from renegotiated garbage contracts. Already, requests range from $1 million for the Food Bank to as much as $2.3 million to widen North Marine Drive. Notwithstanding requests for greenspaces and affordable housing, the council also will consider reducing landfill fees and providing money for Metro and its tri-county cities to pay for growth planning.
“In a way, it is sort of like taking a deck of cards and throwing them in the air,” said Metro Councilor Ed Washington, addressing what he views as overwhelming needs in the community.
At two public hearings during the last month, the Regional Environmental Management Committee that he chairs has taken testimony delivered on behalf of various causes looking to share in the haul.
But Mike Burton, Metro’s executive officer, says that while there are many worthy projects in the community, the regional agency cannot overlook its priority — planning for the area’s growth.
While noting that the council’s charter specifies its responsibility for planning, he said there is no mechanism in place to pay for its own efforts in urban reserve planning, or to help cash-strapped cities carry out that mission.
“Our planning activities don’t have any revenue sources, and in our charter, it says that is our primary responsibility,” Burton said.
He added that “if our solid waste program provides a source of money to do that, then we have to do that.”
Burton also said that part of the savings should be returned to consumers. However, he said there are concerns that costs not be reduced to the point where consumers — especially large, commercial ventures — lose their incentive to recycle.
Of the total projected savings, $60 million will come from savings resulting from Metro’s renegotiated garbage disposal contract with Waste Management International. Last year, that firm was bought by USA Waste without abiding by contract terms specifying that Metro be consulted about any change in control of the company.
When the disposal fee was recalculated to $17.37 per ton from the existing $23.94, it translated to an anticipated $60 million over the remaining life of the contract.
The remaining $9 million in savings will come from another renegotiated contract.
Although the total comes to $69 million, Burton noted that other factors go into trash disposal fees by the time they trickle down to consumers in the various cities of Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties. In the end, they would see only a portion of the amount reflected in their bills during the next decade, he said.
Metro is expected to consider its options before making a decision in the next few months.